Novak Djokovic suffered his earliest US Open exit in 20 years after being defeated by Mariano Navone in the first round on Monday. The 37-year-old Serb, a four-time champion in New York, lost 6-4, 6-3, 6-3 to the Argentine world No. 36.
Shock defeat at Flushing Meadows
Djokovic, who had not lost in the opening round at the US Open since 2005, was broken five times and made 42 unforced errors. Navone, 24, clinched victory on his first match point with a forehand winner, sealing the biggest win of his career.
The defeat marks the first time Djokovic has failed to reach the second round at a major since the 2017 Australian Open, when he retired injured in the second round. It also ends his 19-match winning streak at the US Open, where he had lifted the title in 2018, 2019, 2021 and 2023.
Navone's career-best result
Navone, who had never previously won a main-draw match at the US Open, will face a second-round opponent to be determined. The Argentine, ranked 36th in the world, had only one previous grand slam win to his name, at the 2024 French Open.
Djokovic's early exit opens up the bottom half of the draw, with the Serb having been seeded second behind defending champion Jannik Sinner. The 24-time grand slam champion will now turn his attention to the remainder of the hard-court season, with the Shanghai Masters and the Paris Masters among his scheduled events.
